ALCHEMY

Margaret Mahy, . . Simon Pulse, $7.99 (207pp) ISBN 978-0-689-85054-7

A teacher discovers that Roland, one of the "top guys" at school, is shoplifting; the man uses the incident to blackmail the teen into cozying up to a loner student, whose interest in alchemy prompts Roland's awareness of his own magical powers. "Fans of this author will relish the combination of realistic, full-bodied characters and elaborately plotted fantasy," PW said. Ages 12-up. (Aug.)

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